We'll be needing each and every one of these tips today.
With temperatures set to break the highest on record in the UK in Leeds today, reaching 39 degrees and a scorching 41 across Yorkshire, if there was ever a time to be preparing your home to stay cool, this would be it.
Those who have spent time abroad where temperatures like this are more frequent are experts in keeping their homes as cool as possible, so overseas property experts from YourOverseasHome.com have compiled a list of ten ways that we can keep ourselves and our homes from melting in the heat.
Keep reading to find out what they recommend you change in your home to keep cool over the coming days.
It might seem counterintuitive, but if the air outside is hotter than the air in your home, keeping your windows closed could help your home stay a little cooler.
Keep curtains and blinds closed
Much of the sunlight that enters your home through the windows turns into heat, so it’s a good idea to keep your curtains and blinds closed, at least during the hottest times of the day. You may even want to opt for blackout curtains to keep windows covered and block the sunlight out completely.
Manage the humidity
While dehumidifiers won’t necessarily reduce room temperature, they can help control the sticky, thick air that makes hot days even more uncomfortable. Humidity decreases the rate at which our sweat evaporates, making us feel much hotter and sweatier, so investing in a dehumidifier can make your home a bit more comfortable during the hottest and most humid days.
Use large appliances at night
Large appliances can give off significant amounts of heat, so try not to use them on the hottest days if possible. Instead, pop washing machines and dishwashers on overnight instead. This will also help save some money on electricity bills - it’s a win-win scenario!
If you spend most of your time in one room, consider closing the doors to the rooms you don’t use as often - like bedrooms and bathrooms. Closing off parts of the house can help keep the cooler air concentrated in a single area, and means the room you’re using the most will cool down faster - and stay cool.
Swap out incandescent lights
Incandescent light bulbs waste a huge amount of their energy in the heat they emit, so if you’re trying to cool a room down without AC, small shifts like switching to compact fluorescent lamps can have a surprisingly significant impact, while also lowering your energy bill.
Consider fan placement
Fans only keep air moving around, rather than actually cooling the air itself, so make sure you’re setting them up in the best locations. It’s best to place them next to open windows at night or in hallways so that they draw in cooler air to the warmer areas.
Image: Unsplash
Opt for cotton sheets
Textiles like flannel sheets and fleece blankets are fantastic for insulation, but cotton is a far smarter choice at this time of year as it ‘breathes’ easier and stays cooler. If you really want to up the ante, pop your sheets in a carrier bag in the fridge an hour or two before you go to bed, so that they’re nice and cool for you to sleep on.
Keep your extractor fans running
Turning on the extractor fans in your bathroom and kitchen can help pull the hot air that rises after you cook or take a steamy shower out of your home.
Unplug any electrical appliances that you’re not using
Plugged in electronics generate heat even when they’re off or not in use, which can make an already hot home even hotter. Unplug things like toasters, kettles, TVs and device chargers when you’re not using them.
There's a brand-new Catalonian-inspired café and bar venue coming to Sheffield where you can grab a coffee or a pint at the same time.
This is Cats, a combined café and bar space that's making its way to Broomhill and offering anyone visiting the chance to experience a taste of Spain without having to fork out the cost of a plane ticket.
Catalonia is famous for many notable like impressive architecture such as La Sagrada Familia, legendary performers like Rosalía and phenomenal all-day hospitality which this new site is hoping to emulate.
Although we might not be able to judge their skills as vocalists, when it comes to construction and deconstruction they're excelling, as can be seen in their renovation progress documented across their socials.
Taking shape in the former Nibbles Pizza site on Ashdell Road, although you might not be able to order a 12 inch meat feast anymore, Cats will be offering a range of interesting wines, beers and bar snacks.
In newly-released rendered images, a fitting wine-red colour has been used throughout both interior and exterior, the latter having a small seating adjacent to the front door.
Inside, you'll find lightbulbs dotted around the almost-180 degree-spanning window seating with small warm lights to set the mood.
Directly opposite will be the bar with a muted-concrete countertop that has a coffee machine on one end and draught beers on the other - the ultimate dream.
There's even a cellar area downstairs with banquette seating and those familiar tabletop lamps which help keep the atmosphere as relaxed and intimate as intended.
As the name may suggest, this place isn't exclusively for feline lovers as this Sheffield venue is promising to be a dog-friendly site stocking 'Cats' branded dog treats and water bowls.
Of course, this won't be exactly how this café and bar space will end up looking like as working with an older may pose some potential challenges, but these plans shouldn't differ too much.
We can't wait to get our claws on a glass of vino.
Featured Images - Cats Sheffield via Instagram (Supplied)
Trending
Trains from Leeds ‘extremely limited’ amid record-breaking heatwave
Daisy Jackson
‘Extremely limited’ train services are running across Yorkshire this week as the country melts in a record-breaking heatwave.
Northern has reached out to passengers to warn that a ‘significantly reduced’ number of trains are operating in and out of Leeds.
They’re urging people to avoid travelling at all unless your journey is ‘absolutely essential’.
And if you do have to travel, they’ve warned of ‘significantly longer waiting times, busy trains and short-notice cancellations’.
The disruption is set to continue all day today and into tomorrow, Friday 26 June, as temperatures up north are forecast to hit 34ºC and an Amber weather warning for extreme heat covers much of the country.
Northern has assured passengers that they ‘are doing everything we can to keep people moving as efficiently as possible’.
Passengers are encouraged to check their journey before setting off, carry water, and avoid peak times where possible.
If you chose not to take a planned journey, you can claim a full refund on your ticket, or travel on another day using Northern’s ticket easement.
You can see the full travel advice for Northern HERE.
Northern said in a notice to passengers: “Due to the continued extreme heat, we have significantly reduced the number of trains running on routes in and out of Manchester, and services remain in high demand. This will now continue into Friday, 26 June.
“We strongly recommend customers consider whether their journey is necessary and if customers do choose to travel this week, they are advised to prepare for significantly longer waiting times, busy trains and short-notice cancellations.
“We would ask all customers to only travel if your journey is absolutely essential and to check your full journey before setting off.”
Sophie Smith -
19th July 2022 
